FIFA plan cup change

FIFA look set to make the Confederations Cup, arguably the most unpopular competition in international football, a four-yearly event in response to claims it is putting too much pressure on overworked players.

The Confederations Cup, which reaches its conclusion in Paris today, is now expected to only take place every four years as a dress rehearsal for World Cup hosts.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has now suggested that change is imminent for the tournament, which matches the leading countries of each confederation.

He said at a news conference in Paris: “We will have to make the decision if we will play this competition every second year or every four, as a rehearsal for the World Cup.

“This may be the solution of FIFA. FIFA makes an effort not to put too many competitions into an already overcharged calendar.”

In truth, Blatter would prefer to keep the competition every two years in the hope that it can rival UEFA’s European Championships, but he has clearly been affected by the criticism that has accompanied the scheduling of this tournament at the end of a long season just a year after the World Cup.

Blatter suggested the World Club Championships, another competition that has struggled for popularity, could be staged four-yearly as well – in the year following World Cups.

Blatter claimed this Confederations Cup had been a success, pointing out the numbers of journalists attending his news conference in Paris.

No doubt the number of reporters would have been far fewer had it not been for the death of Marc-Vivien Foe or the fact FIFA were announcing a decision on whether to expand the number of World Cup finalists from 32 to 36.

As expected, FIFA kept the number at 32 but only after a dramatic and controversial U-turn in policy which saw Oceania stripped of the automatic qualification spot it was awarded only six months ago.

FIFA have restored a play-off spot to South America in order to pacify their powerful contingent in the game’s world governing body.

The decision means the winners of the Oceania group – including Australia and New Zealand – will have to play off, as in the past, against a South American country.

Soccer Australia’s acting chief executive Stefan Kamasz today slammed the decision as “outrageous and politically motivated”.

Kamasz targeted UEFA president Lennart Johansson, who is also a FIFA vice-president, for particular criticism saying Oceania’s abstention from a crucial vote had sealed Germany’s successful bid for the 2006 World Cup against South Africa.

Kamasz told the Press Association: “There is no justice in all of this. I find it quite outrageous that in December, FIFA president Sepp Blatter was saying that now Oceania have access to the World Cup, an injustice had been corrected.

“Yesterday, Lennart Johansson was saying they had corrected a mistake by reversing the decision.

“If we are talking politics, it was interesting that Lennart Johansson’s confederation got the 2006 World Cup because of the way in which the Oceania representative acted.

“Obviously, now they have got that, it is a case of ‘don’t worry about Oceania and look after your other mates for the future’.”

The decision to award one Oceania country direct qualification to the World Cup formed part of Blatter’s re-election campaign.

FIFA are now expected to attempt to pacify Oceania, possibly by creating a mini play-off tournament for the four countries that will be involved or to award them the 2005 World Club Championship.

Kamasz was dismissive of this. He said: “Big deal. If you ask every country in Oceania what their preference would be, it would be direct qualification. Anything else would be second best.”

Other decisions made by FIFA’s executive committee yesterday included:

A worldwide ban on players removing their shirts during goal celebrations.

Age tests to be brought in for the Under-17 World Championships in Finland, with three players from each team submitting to MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans of their wrists to prevent age cheats.

Spain’s football association to be warned that their domestic season has gone on too long.

Players up to the age of 21 with dual nationality allowed to change national teams even if they have represented them internationally before.